How to Get the Data You Want

Underneath the graph on the "The Data" page, you will find two control panels - one blue, and one yellow. The blue control panel, General Options, allows you to select the year, subject, and grade level of the data in the graph, and also allows you to show or hide the Line of Regression. The yellow control panel, Comparison Options, allows you to control the schools and/or districts which will appear on the graph, and to highlight a particular school or district on the graph.

General Options

The General Options control panel allows you to select which data to display, and whether to show the Line of Regression.

• Subject & Test Year
  Select from the available years (the last three years for which we have data) and subjects (Reading and Math)
• Show Line of Regression
  Uncheck this option if you wish to hide the line of regression
• Grade Level
  Select the desired grade level

The graph defaults to 4th grade Math results from the most recent testing year.  To change the grade, year, or subject matter, just select your desired option from the appropriate pull-down menu.  It does not matter in which order you specify your criteria - the graph will update itself as you go.

Comparison Options

The comparison option control panel features three tabs - each of which will reveal a different set of data on the graph.

• Districts in State will allow you to see all the districts in Washington State in comparison to each other. You may select a particular district to highlight it on the graph.
• Schools in District will allow you to see all the schools (at the selected grade level) for a particular district in comparison with each other. You may select a particular school to highlight it on the graph.
• Schools in State will allow you to see all the schools in Washington State. By selecting a particular district and then a particular school, you will be able to highlight that school on the graph.

What The Data Means

This website provides schools and districts a clear visual representation of their relative academic achievement compared to other schools and districts in the state of Washington.

Scatter diagrams (scattergrams) are convenient ways to portray complex but meaningful relationships between variables. In this case, the scattergrams show the relationship between student achievement and student free/reduced lunch eligibility, a common proxy for family income level.

The circles on each scattergram represent either schools or districts, depending on the selection. Each chart also shows the line of regression (optional), which is a line superimposed on the data representing the pattern among the schools and/or districts in relation to achievement and student free/reduced lunch eligibility.

We plotted achievement scores along with the % of students eligible for free/reduced lunch because past research has shown a strong relationship between student achievement and socio-economic status (SES). The data are presented as scattergrams to provide a visual record of the relationship between achievement and SES at district and school levels.